Every Friday afternoon we raise a glass to celebrate some of the best new boozy bottles to hit store shelves. Although we haven’t been shy about our love of black-and-white packaging, today we’re painting the town red (and a bunch of other colors, too). Design is nothing if not functional, and a diverse palette is arguably the most intuitive system for identifying different brews and flavors, as evidenced by these pretty “color swatch” wines, fiery geometric vodka, and more.

Djurdjic Winery, by Peter Gregson Studio
It’s time for wine labels to move beyond flowing calligraphy and pastoral illustrations. And since we call wines by their color anyway (red, white, and rosé at least), this refreshing edition of wine took it a step further with these big blocks of color. It sounds too easy to be true, but the overall look boasts a surprising level of sophistication with a decidedly modern aesthetic. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the label reminds us of perusing Pantone color swatches.

7 Fjell, by KIND
This line of craft beer might be the easiest game of “spot the difference” we’ve ever played. Against the backdrop of the amber bottles and the pared down logo, the thin colored strip really makes a statement as virtually the only method of differentiation among the variety of brews. Let this be a lesson to all summer beers that highlighter hues aren’t the only ones that can catch our eye.
(Via Packaging Design Served)

Absolut Flavours, by Brand Union
To be honest, none of these flavors sound very enticing to us, but we just might purchase the edition for the sake of its dramatic and expressive packaging. From fiery geometric patterns to spattered and haphazard paint strokes, these abstract fruit renderings have us hypnotized. Plus we’re all about (occasionally) unplugging from the computer for the sake of creating authentic, handmade design.
(Via Packaging of the World)

Bold Neu Bru, by Peter Radich Design
Okay, we know colors are supposed to do the talking today, but we couldn’t resist the complementary pairing of this simple type with a vibrant color scheme. Not only did the designers opt for unexpected color choices (aquamarine and light gray for beer?), each brew also has a distinct personality, yet looks seamlessly unified as a whole collection. The detail of the two white dots on the neck and the half-circle indentations on the top right of the labels also adds a playful quirk.
(Via Packaging of the World)

Vocation Brewery, by Robot Food
Like the legendary pairings of “bread and butter,” “heart and soul,” “pride and joy,” and “divide and conquer,” these in-house illustrations go hand in hand with this microbrewery’s offerings. The burst of rich color in the clean type manages to rise above the artful noise of the black and white inscriptions to truly command our attention—and of course we can’t help but admire its eye-centric logo.
(Via Packaging Design Served)